2012 Super Chevy Show - Rockin’ Around

The last event of the 2012 Super Chevy Show season had the North Carolina hills filled with the sounds of horsepower.

By the time everyone starts reading this story, we'll be kicking off the 2013 Super Chevy Show season at Palm Beach International Raceway. Hard to believe that 2012 is already in the books, and 2013 is starting up!

Finishing up 2012 was the Rockingham show, and just like in 2011, it didn't disappoint. The stands were packed, race cars were flying, and the car show entries were top-notch, with a great variety for us to look at. We can't to be back at The Rock in 2013!

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The Man Behind the Scenes

We had a chance to sit down with Rockingham owner Steve Earwood and talk to him about a variety of things. Steve has been involved with the Super Chevy Show series nearly back to its inception in the early '80s, when he helped promote the first events at Maple Grove, Indy, and Palm Beach.

Steve also directed NHRA's national media program for 11 seasons, was Marketing Vice President of Billy Meyer's Texas Motorplex, Vice President and General Manager of Atlanta Dragway and Public Relations consultant to Raymond Beadle's Blue Max NASCAR Racing Team when it won the Winston Cup championship (with driver Rusty Wallace) in 1989. He also worked for/with IHRA for a number of years, until he purchased Rockingham Dragway from the L.G. DeWitt family in 1992.

"Nothing is like it was 25 years ago when this series first started. But you follow the same principle of running a track you did then—adapt to fill the needs of your customers."

Steve says today's racing fan is a much more casual one, and that requires changing how the various racing programs are set up at the track. One advantage he points out with being an independent track versus corporately owned is being able to change and adapt more quickly. North Carolina has 21 dragstrips currently operating in its borders, more than any other state than Texas, so competition is tough. One thing he says Rockingham does is always offer the best track surface possible for racers. Brand-new, not used, top fuel slicks are used to drag Rockingham's surface. And for 2013, the track is working on new major events along with continuing improvements and upgrades to the facility.

Editor's Choice Car Show Awards

McRoy Smith, Marion, SC, '70 Chevelle SS454

Morris Johnson Jr., Moneta, VA, '69 Camaro SS396

Tim DeGrauwe, Hopewell, VA, '60 Biscayne

Jeff Smith, Richlands, NC, '55 Bel Air Sedan

Kenny Tibbs, Rual Retreat, VA, '67 SS366 Camaro

Gerald Copeland, Tifton, GA, '67 Corvette

Jon Williams, Clayton, NC, '71 Nova

Ken Owen, Pinehurst, NC, '59 Biscayne

William Miller, Rockingham, NC, '57 210 Sedan

Wayne Frazier, Stokesdale, NC, '71 C-10 Super Cheynne

Gold Class

Stock Camaro '67-'69: Junior Shifflett, Dytee, VA

Stock Camaro '67-'69: Henery Tibbs, Rual Retreat, VA

Street Camaro '67-'69: Eddie Sells, Apex, NC

Stock Corvette '53-'67: Jerry Lyhdon, Statesville, NC

Modified Camaro '67-'69: Wyatt Whitworth, N Wikesboro, NC

Street Chevelle: Jeff Davis, Marristown, NJ

Big Car: Billy Moose, Troutman, NC

Big Car '58-'59: Danielle Tackett, Price, KY

Modified '55-'56-'57: Jennings White, Manchester, KY

Best of Show

Big Car: Jerry Dennis, Concord, NC

Camaro: Jerry Bass, Rockingham, NC

Chevelle: Doug Seawell, Greensboro, NC

Corvette: Hubert Wright, Gibsonville, NC

Conversion: Machie Odum, Laurel Hill, NC

Early Chevy: Kelli Blake, Rockingham, NC

El Camino: Jimmy Simmons, Greensboro, NC

'55-'57 Chevy: David Maxwell, Axton, VA

Monte Carlo: Michael Boyte, Summerfield, NC

Nova: Harmon Stevens, Mockesville, NC

Pro Street.Engineered: George Keel, Spotsylvania, PA

Truck: Danny Auman, High Point, NC

Paint: Junior Shifflett, Dyke, VA

Detail: Kenny Tibbs, Rual Retreat, VA

Engine: Wyatt Whitworth, North Wilkesboro, NC

Excellence Award: Jeff Smith, Richlands, NC

Best of Show: Billy Moose, Troutman, NC

Editor's Choice Drag Race Awards

Michael Walters, Racford, NC

Tom Ball, High Point, NC

Llyod Tisdale, Kingstree, SC

Steve Geer, Chesepeke, VA

Tommy Lumley, Charlotte, NC

Tim Bailey, Phichurst, NC

Haywood Carpenter, Rockingham, NC

Randy Prince, Parkton, NC

Tom Johnson, Newport News, VA

Dean Phillips, Burlington, NC

Race Results

Beal Racing Engines Pro Mod Shootout

Winner: Ed Hoover, Gilbert, S.C.

R/U: Travis Harvey, Elon, N.C.

DOT Street

Winner: Tim Clark, Rockingham, N.C.

R/U: Jerry Cline, Mooresville, N.C.

Top Eliminator (Friday)

Winner: Lee Astle, Jonesville, S.C.

R/U: Tommy Strickland, Raeford, N.C.

(Saturday)

Winner: Chip Johnson, Fayetteville, N.C.

R/U: Doug Walker, Greensboro, N.C.

Footbrake (Friday)

Winner: Justin West, Dunn, N.C.

R/U: Tyler Brayton, Charlotte, N.C.

(Saturday)

Winner: Kyle Oliver, Jefferson, S.C.

R/U: Donald Daniels, Godwin, N.C.

Junior Dragster

Winner: Kristen Byrd, Benson, N.C.

R/U: Brittney Dial, Maxton, N.C.

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1.There was an abundance of gorgeous big cars present, and one of the best was Ken Owen’s ’59. Power comes from a 380-horse 409, and the tailfins/trunk are painted a contrasting cream color.

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14. The fifth-gen Camaro crowd is one of the strongest groups at all the Super Chevy Shows, and getting bigger every year. We had everything from V-6 RS cars to a ZL1 at the show.

Here are the Rockingham, North Carolina, winners from the Amsoil Best of the Best Competition, presented by Danchuk and Classic Muscle:

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The AMSOIL Best of the Best voting begins the Monday after each Super Chevy Show and lasts through the following Monday at midnight. Keep your browser aimed at bestofthebest.superchevy.com to vote for next batch of classic Bow Ties.